SMS Pro

What SMS Pro does

SMS Pro is a cloud-based aviation Safety Management System (SMS) software suite operated by NorthWest Data Solutions, a privately held company headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, that has served the aviation safety market since 2008. The platform is purpose-built for civil aviation compliance — covering all four ICAO SMS pillars (Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, Safety Promotion) — and is accepted as a compliant Electronic Record Keeping System by FAA, EASA, CASA, IATA, Transport Canada, and IS-BAO. Its customer base of more than 450 organizations spans commercial airlines, airports, helicopter operators, MROs, flight schools, FBOs, medical transport, agricultural aviation, military, UAS operators, and government aviation authorities, with named customers including PAL Aerospace, Business Jet Access, Aviation Concepts Inc., Air Bravo Corp, Air Nunavut / SmoothAir Charter, and R1 Airlines.

The product portfolio is delivered in four editions — SMS Pro Basic, Professional, Enterprise, and SSP Pro for State Safety Programs — and is supported by modular add-ons covering incident reporting, hazard risk management, audit suites, training and competency management, compliance management, document control, investigation management, and corrective/preventive actions. Technically, the platform combines a mobile-friendly interface with offline auditing and FRAT capabilities, TLS 1.3 data encryption, role-based access with audit trails, a built-in Learning Management System, API integrations with ASIAS, ASRS, and ECCAIRS, and an AI-enhanced portal for predictive hazard identification, automated CPA suggestions, and anomaly detection across safety KPIs. Data centers carry SOC 1 (SAS 70 Type II), HIPAA, PCI DSS, and NIST 800-53 certifications, and the platform advertises 99.9% uptime with 2-day onboarding after payment.

Commercial operations blend a sales-led motion for enterprise customers with a freemium self-serve entry point ($0/month) and a referral-driven partner channel. The partner network reportedly comprises 8,000+ SMS professionals worldwide who deliver implementation, consulting, and training services on a 50% commission basis, providing geographically distributed sales coverage across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and the South Pacific. The company is founder-led, with CEO Chris Howell at the parent entity NorthWest Data Solutions, and no external venture or private equity investment is disclosed in the source materials.

Name

SMS Pro

Legal name

NorthWest Data Solutions

Website

https://asms-pro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SMS Pro is a cloud-based aviation Safety Management System software suite serving 450+ airlines, airports, MROs, and other aviation operators worldwide with FAA/EASA/ICAO-compliant incident reporting, risk management, and AI-enhanced predictive analytics since 2008.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Safety Management Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety Management Systems (SMS) & Operational Compliance (THABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Factors, Safety Management & Maintenance Error Prevention (EDAOAFAM)

Keywords

• Aviation safety management
• SMS compliance software
• Aviation risk management
• Safety reporting software
• Aviation regulatory compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription Licensing: Cloud-based software subscription with multiple tiers (Basic, Professional, Enterprise, SSP Version) providing recurring revenue. Plans start at $0/month for entry-level, with scalable pricing based on organization size and feature requirements. Operational within 2 days after payment.
2. Partner Referral and Reseller Commissions: Channel partners earn 50% of initial licensing fees or first three months of subscription price for referrals. Partners with 101-200 employees can earn $25K share per deal, or $1,000 for standard referrals.
3. Training and Implementation Services: Partners provide SMS implementation, consulting, and training services that complement the software platform, creating additional revenue streams through the partner ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SMS Pro provides a cloud-based aviation Safety Management System (SMS) software suite that helps airlines, airports, MROs, helicopter operators, flight schools, and government aviation authorities comply with ICAO, FAA, EASA, CASA, IATA, Transport Canada, and IS-BAO standards. The platform integrates the four ICAO SMS pillars (Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, Safety Promotion) and includes hazard reporting, risk assessment, audit management, training management, compliance documentation, and AI-enhanced predictive analytics. The software is offered in four editions (Basic, Professional, Enterprise, SSP) and is operational within two days after payment.

Product overview

SMS Pro is a modular Aviation Safety Management System (SMS) software suite developed by NorthWest Data Solutions since 2008. The product portfolio includes four distinct editions: SMS Pro Basic (entry-level compliance), SMS Pro Professional (mid-tier with advanced features), SMS Pro Enterprise (full-featured enterprise solution), and SSP Pro for State Safety Programs. The core platform is supplemented by individual modules covering incident reporting, hazard risk management, safety audits, training management, compliance management, document control, investigation management, and corrective/preventive actions. All editions integrate the four ICAO SMS pillars (Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, Safety Promotion) and are compliant with FAA, EASA, ICAO, CASA, IATA, Transport Canada, and IS-BAO standards. The software features AI-powered analytics for predictive hazard identification and automated report processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMS Pro Basic: Entry-level SMS software solution for small aviation service providers
• SMS Pro Professional
• SMS Pro Enterprise
• SSP Pro

Products and services

• SMS Pro Basic

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces SMS implementation time by up to 20%
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JRA Aero (UK)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUK-based SMS consulting and implementation partner providing local expertise for aviation operators in the United Kingdom market.
• Thought Process (Asia & Canada)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAuditing, SMS consulting, and implementation services in Asia and Canada markets. Provides gap analysis and SMS implementation roadmaps.
• Glenn Jones, Grenville Hudson (Asia)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndividual SMS consultants providing auditing and implementation services in the Asia-Pacific region.
• JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (US)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUS-based aviation technology solutions partner providing SMS consulting and implementation services to American aviation operators.
• SCSI (US)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUS-based SMS consulting partner offering implementation services.
• The Aviation Consulting Group (US)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUS-based aviation consulting firm providing SMS implementation and compliance advisory services.
• SMS4Aviation (US)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUS-based SMS consulting partner specializing in aviation safety management system implementation.
• Richard Abbott (US)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndividual SMS trainer focused on aviation safety training and implementation support.
• LOSA (US)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLine Operations Safety Assessment (LOSA) partner providing specialized aviation safety consulting.
• Cirrus Safety (Canada)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCanadian SMS training and consulting partner serving operators in Canada.
• Dutcher Safety & Meteorology Services (Canada)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCanadian safety and meteorology services provider offering specialized SMS consulting.
• Safety Systems (Canada)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCanadian safety systems partner providing training, SMS consulting, and implementation services.
• DCA-BR (Brazil)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBrazilian SMS consulting and implementation partner serving the Latin American aviation market.
• Rudy Quevedo, Seminarios SMS (Latin America)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLatin American SMS training and implementation partner providing seminars and implementation services in Spanish and Portuguese markets.
• TryByte (Middle East)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMiddle Eastern SMS implementation partner serving aviation operators in the Middle East region.
• PlaneTorque Australia (South Pacific)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAustralian SMS implementation, auditing, and consulting partner serving the South Pacific aviation market.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Swiss AviationSoftware (AMOS): Provider of the AMOS MRO and operations suite used by airlines and MROs; broad incumbent that overlaps with SMS Pro's MRO segment and could expand into safety management functionality.
• IFS: Enterprise software vendor with a strong aviation MRO/EAM footprint (IFS Maintenix) that increasingly bundles safety, quality, and compliance modules relevant to SMS Pro's buyer base.
• SITA: Large aviation IT incumbent providing messaging, operations, and safety-related platforms across airlines and airports; offers broader portfolio that can subsume niche SMS functionality over time.
• FlightSafety International: Major aviation training organization adjacent to SMS Pro's training and competency management modules; comparable buyer base across airlines, business aviation, and government operators.
• Lufthansa Systems: Aviation IT arm of the Lufthansa Group offering airline operations, crew, and compliance solutions; a broad incumbent whose aviation software suite could encroach on the SMS space.

Emerging players

• Pelesys: Aviation training software provider whose e-learning and competency modules overlap with SMS Pro's built-in LMS; relevant as a partially-overlapping competitor in flight school and airline training accounts.

Direct peers

• Avoira (Safety & Compliance division): Avoira's aviation safety division delivers SMS consulting, training, and software (formerly Baines Simmons) for EASA Part-CAMO and ICAO operators, directly competing for the same European and global aviation SMS mandates.
• CASS (Compliance and Aviation Safety Systems): Aviation SMS software vendor serving airlines, business aviation, and MROs with comparable ICAO-aligned compliance modules, competing head-to-head for similar enterprise SMS deals.
• Aviation Safety Solutions: Aviation SMS software and consulting provider focused on Part 121, Part 135, and Part 91 operators with similar hazard reporting, risk management, and audit modules to SMS Pro.
• Baines Simmons (Avoira): UK-based aviation safety consultancy and SMS software/implementation provider that, like SMS Pro, sells ICAO/FAA/EASA-compliant SMS tooling and implementation services to airlines, MROs, and business aviation operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sms_pro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sms-pro
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMSPro.Safety.Management.System

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SMS Pro